Placenta Previa vs Placental Abruption
Placenta Previa and Placental Abruption are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Placenta Previa vs Placental Abruption at a glance
- Placenta Previa: Placenta covering or near the internal cervical os — painless bright red bleeding in second/third trimester.
- Placental Abruption: Premature separation of the normally implanted placenta — painful bleeding with uterine hypertonus and fetal distress.
Keep comparing — start your free trial
You've used your 2 free previews. Create your free account to see the full Placenta Previa vs Placental Abruption comparison — plus all 514 diagnosis outlines, 5,500+ board-style questions, and an AI tutor. Your 7-day free trial includes everything, no credit card required.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Placenta Previa | Placental Abruption |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Placenta covering or near the internal cervical os — painless bright red bleeding in second/third trimester. | Premature separation of the normally implanted placenta — painful bleeding with uterine hypertonus and fetal distress. |
| Classic presentation | Third-trimester woman with painless bright red vaginal bleeding, soft non-tender uterus, and placenta over or near the cervical os on TVUS.; Painless bright… | Third-trimester woman with painful dark vaginal bleeding, firm tender uterus, and nonreassuring fetal heart tones — especially in setting of hypertension or… |
| Workup / key labs | AVOID digital cervical exam in any patient with third-trimester bleeding until placenta previa is excluded by ultrasound.; CBC, blood type and crossmatch,… | CBC, blood type and crossmatch; Coagulation studies (PT, PTT, fibrinogen — pregnancy normal >300-400 mg/dL; <200 concerning, <150 critical); DIC panel:… |
| Imaging | Transabdominal ultrasound first, then transvaginal ultrasound — safe in placenta previa and more accurate; gold standard for diagnosis; Routine anatomy scan… | Continuous external fetal monitoring — most important assessment; Tocodynamometry — high-frequency low-amplitude contractions or hypertonus; Ultrasound —… |
| First-line treatment | Avoid digital cervical exam, intercourse, vaginal tampons; Activity restriction (modified — strict bedrest no longer recommended); Hemodynamic stabilization… | ABCs — large-bore IV access, type and crossmatch (4-6 units), IV crystalloid resuscitation; Continuous fetal monitoring; Left lateral decubitus positioning,… |
Drill Placenta Previa vs Placental Abruption questions on FirstPassPA
Turn this comparison into retention. 5,500+ board-style questions with an AI tutor that explains every answer — free to start, no card required.
Start studying free → Try today's free questionEducational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.